I think the Australian models and the USA models of Toyota/Lexus models differ. In the USA, the GX is a lexified 4runner, while the LX is a lexified Land Cruiser. There is no Prado model in the USA.

Rich

Sorry Rich there was a typo in my post I agree the LX is definitely a 200 series Landcruiser base. The recall was for the GX (not the LX) I believe.

I was in the states 6 months ago and saw a GX and it is based on the international 150 series landcruiser prado. Including the body work. A little more research also shows the 4 runner and the FJ all have the same underpinnings.

To get this thread back to what we should be talking about - Jeeps. The 150 series is very popular here (we don't have 4 runner) and is often compared to the New JGC. as the 150 series (GX equiv) is in the same class as to offroad capability and pricing. one recent review had overall the landrover discovery Hse in 1st place, the JGC Laredo with QTII and QL in second and the 150 series 3rd. If you want on road comfort and handling the jeep won that segment between the three.

Also coming back again to price there it is a no brainer. You could nearly buy two Laredos for one HSE disco. I imagine a summit would still be a far bit cheaper than the HSE LRD4.

Based on the above discussions about vehicles we dont have in Australia and the review of the above 3 and considering the OP's comments about needs IMHO the Grand Cherokee is the vehicle of choice. good luck with it

It depends on what "Hack it" means. Are you going to be off-road? Do you need to tow and want/need the V8? If the answer to those two is yes, there are increasingly less vehicles that are as capable as the Jeep at the price point.

As for what we looked at, the quick answer is everything. I can say with authority because I have seen, priced, and driven everything remotely comparable and in a remotely similar price range that the Jeep represents an incredible value.

There were other vehicles I liked, most notably the new Explorer (REALLY pricy though), the Subaru Outback, the Chevy Traverse, but when you come back to the Jeep and what you can get one out the door for, the value is undeniable.

I don't drive off-road, and therefore my two choices narrowed down to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland or the Dodge Durango Citadel.
My wife preferred the interior of the Durango, whereas I prefer the Overland.
I have to admit the extra room of the Durango was tempting, and I really like the front end of the Durango (looks mean).
However, overall, I prefer the Jeep.

I shopped around for the better part of a year. I got out of a 2010 Honda Pilot Touring 4wd to buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. My criteria - more horespower & torque than the Honda (not hard to do) and it must have adaptive cruise control.

I looked at a lot and was really interested in the new BMW X3 but BMW doesn't offer the adaptive cruise like they do on the X5. Stupid. Not like that feature alone will prevent someon from jumping from an X3 to and X5 but it is enough to cause me to reject the X3.

I also looked at and drove the new Mercedes ML350. Very nice but the price was astronomical when outfited with whatever packages were required to get the adaptive cruise. And at that price I'd just a soon buy a Cayenne (my other ride is a 911).

I also seriously looked at the Ford products - Edge (nice vehicle but not a true 4WD and I didn't like the interior) and the Explorer which was just to underpowered with the V6.

I also briefly looked at the new Durango and liked it but don't need the 3rd row and like the size/styling of the Jeep better. Plus the true 4WD system and QuadraLift feature which I will probably use on fire roads and such getting to off-road motorcycle trails.

My initial instincts were correct - the JGC is in a class of it's own given what you get and the price. A true value if you ask me. The only major concern I have iwth the JGC is depreciation. I sold my 2010 Pilot with 30K on the odo for $30K. I had it just over 2.5years and paid ~$36K for it. That a hell of a residual value but unlikely I'll be able to match it again - with any vehicle. What is strange is that the "cost of ownership" estimates by Edmunds, KBB, etc don't show it anywhere near as good. I'm hoping the Jeep doesn't dep more than $5k/year. I probably won't keep more than 3 years and, like I said, have the 911 as another car so reliability (while an annoyance) isn't a huge consideration.

But I guess the other main reason I went with the JGC is that I really wanted another big brawny American vehicle (I got the Hemi). I had a '99 Durango with the 5.9L Magnum before the Pilot and loved it. Had 120K on the odo when I sold it for $5K. From the first week in the Pilot I missed the torque. I'm glad to have it back. So far I love the Jeep.

Honestly, I will probably get a lot of hate for this but I have an undying love for the Chevy Tahoe. The misses(I guess mrs if you're married and misses if you're not?) drives a 4x4 Tahoe. I love the damn thing. It's good for snow if you're going to be in city driving most of the time, even on hills and high altitudes it'll do great. However, if you go off road alot and do a lot of offroad heavy driving I wouldn't go for it. If the prices here for tahoes weren't so ridiculously expensive compared to the states and if it had better off roading ability (maybe a variable suspension or something equivalent I would have had a tougher time deciding). I like the styling of the tahoe, I actually see some bits of it in the WK2GCs (hood for example).

Anyways, I stuck with the choice of the JGC WK2 because in my opinion it had the best of every world I could think of from all the tough SUVs. But I'm assuming in NY Tahoes would be dead cheap in comparison, and would do the job if you don't do any heavy rock based off roading or deep mud offroading. The snow and high altitudes shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know what it is. It's very simple. I guess that' swhy I love the Tahoe. Surprisingly comfortable too. Though honestly, I love my WK2. Wouldn't trade it in anytime soon...not until Jeep can make a better GC for my offroading/towing pleasures!